Milk-can seal.



E. J. COWELL.

MILK GAN SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 1s, 1911.

Patented July 30, 1912.

om m F lNVENTOR UNIT SAT MILK-CAN SEAL.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI J. COWELL, a resident of Irwin, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Can Seals, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for sealing cans and other covered receptacles to prevent tampering with the contents, and has particular reference to the provision of an etlicient and practical seal for milk cans so that the same cannot be opened while en route from the producer to the consumer.

The invention in its preferred embodiment consists of a strap-like connection between the cover and the body, with a softmetal seal holding the connection so that the cover cannot be removed without breaking the seal, the seal being so preferably ar-` ranged that it may be readily sheared by moving the connecting part, the latter being movable sufficiently to sever the seal though not far enough to permit the connecting part to turn outwardly to aposition in which it may be bent or broken when the seal is not applied, as when returning empty cans.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a milk can with the improved sealing device applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device in sealed position, while Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device after cutting or shearing the seal. Fig. et is an elevation of portions of a body and cover of the can in separated relation and equipped with the improvement. F ig, 5 is a sectional plan on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the body or neck of a can, and 3 the cover which may be equipped with the usual handhold 4f and chain 5, the latter preventing the cover and can body from becoming separated.

Riveted to the top of cover 3 is lug 6 which is formed with the overhanging and depending bifurcated ear 7 in which is hinged the downwardly extending strap-like arm 8 on pivot 9. When the cover is applied to the can this strap or arm is adapted to enter the bifurcation 10 of lug 11 riveted to body 2, and one or another of perforations 8 in strap 8 is adapted to register with the transverse perforation 11 in lug 1l. lVith the cover tted tightly in the neck or Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tune 13, 1911.

Serial No. 632,987.

body 2, a lead or other shearable seal, preferably in the form of a lead rivet 12, is extended through the alining perforations 8 and 11, and is upset as in Figs. 1 and 5 so that it is necessarily cut or broken to release the cover. formed of plate steel, andbifurcation 10 is sufficiently deep to permit arm 8 to move inward as in Figs. 3 and 5 and shear the rivet, such movement being usually accomplished either by pressure or a slight blow on the depending portion of arm 8. rlhe several perforations 8 in arm 8 permit the sealing device to accommodate itself to the position of the cover in the can neck. When new the cover usually does not fit fully within the neck, as shown in Fig. 2, but continued use causes it to ft down farther until flange 3 of the cover may eventually rest on the top edge 2 of the neck, as in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the bifurcated lugs are so located with relation to each other as to permit the cover to move downwardly to the extreme limit.

The upper edge 13 of the arm 8 is adapted to engage the inner wall 6 in the bifurcation of lug 6, thus prevent-ing the arm from swinging outwardly out of the lug bifurcation 10, though sufficient movement is afforded in the opposite direction to fully shear the sealing rivet, as in Figs. 3 and 5. When empties are being returned the cover may be so applied as to enter arm 8 in .lug 11, or no particular care in this regard need be taken, for if t-he arm is not so embraced the means provided for preventing it from swinging outwardly prevents arm 8 from so turning as to endanger it. Arm 8 fits snugly within bifurcation 10 and severs the rivet 12 wit-h a clean shearing cut so that the fragments may be readily removed from lug perforation 11 and from perforation 8.

While the improved lock or seal is designed primarily for use on cans for shipping milk and cream so that the same cannot be opened without detect-ion, it may be applied to various shipping cans and other closures without departing from the invention.

1. A can lock consisting of two members-one fixed to the exterior of a can body and the other hinged to and depending from the cover at the exterior of the body when the cover is in place, the members being perforated and the perforations adapted to reg- Patented July 30, 1912.

Arm or strap 8 is preferably ister, the perforation of the member carried by the can body being spaced outwardly from the latter for locating the hinge member outwardly from the can body when the perforations are in alinement and with the hinged member adapted to swing inwardly from such alined position, and a soft-metal seal adapted to be secured in the alined perforatio-ns of said members.

2. A can lock consisting of a bifurcated lug secured to the exterior of a can body and having alining perforations through the lug branches, a depending arm movably secured at its upper end to the can cover and adapted to enter and swing within the bifurcated lug, the arm being perforated and the per foration adapted to aline with the lug perforations and with the arm adapted to swing backwardly in the lug for breaking such alinement, and a soft-metal seal eX- tending through the perforations of the lug and arm and adapted to be sheared by the arm upon moving the latter baclwardly in the lug.

3. A can lock consist-ing of t-wo members secured respectively to the can body and to the cover, the members being perforated and the perforations adapted to register when the cover is in position on the body, the perforation of the member carried by the can body being spaced outwardly from the latter sufficiently to hold the cover-carried member away from the can body when the perforations are in alinement, the covercarried member being hinged to the cover, stop means limiting the outward swinging movement of the cover-carried member but not retarding its movement toward the can body, and a soft-metal seal adapted to be secured in the alined perforations of said members.

V 4i. ln a can lock, the combination of a lug adapted to be secured to a can top and havinga bifurcated portion, a depending perforated arln pivoted in the bifurcated portion of the lug with the arm above the pivot adapted to engage the lug and be held thereby against outward swinging movement though not retarding inward swinging of the arm, a lug Aadapted to be secured t0 the can body with said lug and the depending arm having registering openings, and a soft-metal seal extending through the openings and adapted to be sheared by the unobstructed inward swinging of the depending arm.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELI J. COWELL. Nitnessesr ROY H. CownLL, W. I. STRATFORD.

Washington, D. C.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v Y 

